Enzo Sternal. For a long time, the mere mention of this name made OM supporters smile. The attacking midfielder, considered one of the greatest promises of the training center since Samir Nasri, was scheduled to capsize the Orange Vélodrome as a certain Robinio Vaz was able to do on Sunday evening against Strasbourg. But the Gambardella Cup winner's impatience with Marseille decided otherwise.
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Tired of the impatience of the young 17-year-old player, Roberto De Zerbi, a fine tactician, told him to stay in line and wait for his chance as the Italian said at a press conference recently. “I didn't use him much, because there were players better than him like Greenwood, Maupay, Wahi and I base it on what I see on the pitch. I only focus on the field and if the field gives me answers, I act accordingly. I only focus on that. I don't give gifts to players. If he didn’t play, it’s because he didn’t deserve to.” A few hours later, his departure for Anderlecht was confirmed.
OM have every interest in Sternal flaming in Anderlecht
The Belgian club got its hands on the Franco-Algerian until June 2027 in exchange for a check for €500,000. The Belgian club, which was already following the player when he played in Nancy, jumped at the opportunity. No question of guarantees of playing time for the one who was seen at the start of the season in Ligue 1 against Brest with OM. He will have to settle for Team B for now. According to the DH, the Mauves did not take any big risks with the French hope since they won the bet for a little less than a million euros, bonus included. In terms of salary, the Belgian publication assures that Sternal will have modest emoluments.
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Questioned upon his arrival in Belgium, the main interested party explained the reasons which pushed him to accept Anderlecht's proposal:The project interested me in general. It's a club which trains a lot of young people, which makes them play and allows them to progress well and polish them. It's a club that loves football, plays well and has good facilities. It motivated me to come here.» Not a word about Marseille. We understand this since he is perhaps not finished with his story with the winner of the 1993 Champions League.
-Sternal will have to go through the Belgian D2…
As we revealed to you a few days ago, OM still believes in Sternal and has kept a few options in case Sternal flares up in Belgium. There DH confirms that the deal concluded between the French club and its Belgian counterpart includes a few clauses, including a percentage on a future resale, a percentage which can climb up to 50% depending on the amount of the future transfer reports the Belgian publication. Another important detail confirmed by the Belgian press, a right to review a future sale. Indirectly, OM will therefore carefully follow the performances of its former nugget who will have to go through the Belgian second division, with the Anderlecht reserve, the RSCA Futures.
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Not an easy task since Sternal will have to find a place in a rough championship and in a moribund team which is languishing in 14th place in the championship (out of 16 teams). Will Enzo Sternal quickly regret his impatience? Answer very soon and perhaps already next weekend against Patro Eisden, fourth in the championship… Quite a program.
Pub. the 22/01/2025 13:37
– UPDATE 22/01/2025 18:59
